Tongs.



G. A. WILLIAMS.

TONGS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30, 1914.

1,121,783. Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

2 SHEETS-8HEBT 1.

I G. A. WILLIAMS.

TONGS.

APPLICATION TILED JULY 30, 1914. 1,121 ,783. Patented Dec.22,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

CLARENCE A. WILLIAMS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TONGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1914.

Application filed July so, 1914. Serial no. 854,044.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE A. VVIL- LIAMS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTongs, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andexact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in grappling tongs similar inconstruction to the device shown in my copending application forgrappling tongs filed March 26, 191%, Serial No. 827,256. It has beenfound in practice that this particular type of tongs; towit, oneembracing three grappling levers or hooks, has been difiicult tooperate, owing to the fouling of the chains or cables connected to theupper or actuating ends of the respective tong levers. Anotherdifficulty has been experienced in releasing the tongs from an object,particularly where the object has been lowered into a position underwater, but a difficulty I propose to obviate in the present constructionhereinafter described.

It is another important feature of the present invention to prevent therespective tong levers from swin in inwardlv an excessive amount, thatis, with the hook portions crossing one another, thereby making theopening of the tongs a difficult matter, and oftentimes resulting inserious entanglement of the actuating cables or chains supporting thesame.

It is an object of this invention to construct grappling tongs capableof engaging an object at three points, and with the upper or actuatingends of the tongs interconnected by means of chains, so attached to ahoisting chain or block as to equalize the load upon the various tonglevers.

It is also an object of this invention to construct a device forgrappling and lifting objects by engaging the objects at more than twopoints, and provided with equalizing means for causing an evendistribution of the stress, causing the various grappling members to beapplied with equal force.

It is also an important object of this invention to construct three waygrappling tongs wherein mechanisms are provided for positivelydisengagingthe tongs from an object after the object has been placedinto position, together with means connected thereto to prevent anytendency of the respective tong levers to be sprung away from oneanother when grappling an irregular object.

It is also an object of this invention to construct grappling tongsconsisting of three tong levers pivotally connected to one another, oneintermediate the other two, and with the outer two bent to diverge fromone another both at their upper and lower ends, such arrangement of theupper ends acting to prevent fouling of the actuating cables attachedthereto when said tongs swing toward closing position.

It is furthermore an important object of this invention to constructgrappling tongs consisting of three pivoted tong levers wherein meansare provided for preventing the tongs from closing into position withthe hook ends thereof meeting or overlapping one another.

It is finally an object of this invention to construct an improved formof grappling tongs embodying a number of important features forobviating the numerous objections heretofore found in devices of thischaracter.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings andhereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a. conventional perspective view showingtongs embodying the principles of my invent on in grappling positionupon an object. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the tongs. Fig. 3 is aside elevation thereof. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of an obiectshowing tongs embodying the principles of my invention attached thereon.Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail section taken on line 55 of Fig. 1. Fig.6 is a fragmentary detail. section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 8. Fig. 7is a detail of the connection between the lifting cable hook and theactuating chains connected on the upper ends of the tong levers As shownin the drawings: The device consists of three tong levers denotedrespectively by the reference numerals 1, 2. and 3, and each is curvedinwardly at its lower end to form a hook, the hooks of the differentlevers being denoted bv the reference numerals 4-, 5, and 6,respectivelv. Said levers are all pivotallv connected at the same pointupon a. thimble 7. through which extends a pintle bolt 8, with Washers9, engaged beneath the heads thereof at each end bearing a ainst theouter tong levers 2 and 3. As clearly shown in fa, the respective outertong levers 2 and 3, are angled to diverge outwardly at both their upperand lower ends respectively, so that the respective hooks l, 5, and 6,on the lower ends of said tong levers are widely separated from oneanother, thus permitting a large area of an object to be inclosedthereby in grappling. This permits the object to be securely held in astable manner when lifted, and it may be moved about and placed inposition with great accuracy. The purpose of bending the upper ends ofsaid respective tong levers 2 and 8, outwardly, is to prevent the sameswinging into close relation with the upper end of the lever 1, so thatthe adjusting means on the respective ends of said le vers are preventedfrom becoming entangled with one another.

An integral upwardly directed extension 10, is formed on each of theouter edges of the respective hook members, thus providing a slot intowhich a vertically disposed link of a fastening chain 11, looped aroundthe object after the tongs grapple thereon, may be engaged, thus holdingthe tongs upon the object. Due to the narrow width of the slot affordedby the extension 1.0, said fastening chain 11, is not permitted to slidetherethrough and thereby shift its position on the object. Upon someirregular objects there is a tendency for one of the tongs, either 2 or3, as the case may be, to be sprung inwardly or away from the other anabnormal amount when the tongs forced. into grappling position upon theobject, and to prevent such an occurrence, a supplementary connectingchain 12, is connected through apertures to the hoolr members 5 and 6.Other means can be substituted for said chain 12, as for instance a linkor pipe member pivotally connected at its ends to said respective hookmembers, and in such an arrangement of course the link would be capableof withstanding compression in the event of any tendency to spring thelower ends of the tongs 2 and 3, toward one another. However, such avariation in construction comes well within the scope of my invention,and the particular construction of the connecting means may be varied tosuit the purpose.

In order to limit the closing movement of the respective tong levers ofthe device, a block 13, is secured upon the inner edge of the upper endof the lever :1, above the pivotal connection th reef, and extendsoutwardly on each side thereof a sullicient amount to bear against therespective upper ends of the levers 2 and 3, when the same moveinwardly, as for instance at times when the device is not engaged uponan object. The actuating supporting means for said tongs consists of achain, one extremity ll, of which is connected to the upper end of thetong lever 2, and the other extremity 15, of which is connected to theupper end of the tong lever 3, and a small pulley or block 16, isloosely connected in the upper end of the tong lever 1, and receives thelooped end of said attaching chain therethrough. A short chain 17, hasone of its ends linked to one of the links of the extremity 15, of theattaching chain, and its other end is provided with an enlarged link orring 18, through which the extremity 14:, of said attaching chainslidably engages. Said short chain 17, is releasably engaged by a hook19, ecured upon the end of an elevating cable 20, which is trainedthrough a block 21, mounted on the upper end of a derrick boom or otherdevice 22, and then led to a suitable Windlass or other mechanism fortaking up thereon.

For the purpose of disengaging the respective hoolrs 4-, 5, and 6, froman object, as for instance when the same has been placed in positionunder water and fore dihicult to reach, three cables 93, are provided,all connected at their upper ends to a cable 24:, which is trained overa pulley on the derrick boom 22, adjacent said block 21, so that whensaid cables 23, are tensioned, they serve to pull the tong lever hoolrsoutwardly away from the object. if course at this time the tension onthe cable 90, is relieved to permit separation of the upper ends of saidtong leversv The operation is as follows: When it is desired to engagethe tongs upon an object the cable 20, is slackened, and the cablestensioned, thereby extending the tongs and permitting the same to engagearound the object, after which of course said cables 93, are slackened,and the cable 20, taken T he tension on the cable 20. causes an inwardpull upon the upper ends of the tones to tighten the hooked lower endsthereof upon the object, and, for very heavy objects when this has beenaccomplished, a ing chain 11, is looped around the object. Saidfastening chain engages within the cesses formed by the lug extension10, on each of the hook members, so that the hook members are heldpositively in engagement with the object even though tension on thecable 20, is removed. Due to the peculiar chain connection between theupper ends of the tong levers, that is, with one length of chainconnected to the levers 2 and 3, and trained through a block connectedto the lever 1, and with another short length of chain linked to oneextremity of said chain, and slidably engaged upon the other extremitythereof, and receiving the hoolr 19, of the lifting cable 20,therethrough, an equalizing effect is thereby gained. Thus equaldistribution of is effected all of the tong levers, the same beingapplied with equal force upon the object to be lifted, thereby insuringstability of the suspended article which greatly facilitates carefulmanipulation of the same. Due to the fact that the upper ends of therespective tong levers 2 and 3, diverge from one another, it is apparentthat when the tongs swing toward closed position, there is nopossibility of the chain extremities 14 and 15, becoming fouled with oneanother or with other parts of the device. Then, too, the block 13,secured upon the upper end of the tong lever l, prevents a closingmovement of the tong levers beyond a certain point, an eX- ceedinglyobjectionable feature in other devices of this kind. lhe connectingchain 12, between the hooks 5 and 6, of the tong levers 2 and 3, acts toprevent an abnormal divergence thereof when a particularly irregularobject is grappled, and, as already pointed out, it is well within thescope of this invention to substitute a link member in place of saidchain 12, which would act as a compression member in resisting anytendency of the tong members to spring toward one another, although thislatter condition of afiairs does not often occur.

Numerous other details of construction and arrangement of the parts willreadily suggest themselves to one familiar with this type of devices,but I do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise thannecessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described a plurality of grappling tongspivotally connected to one another, mechanisms limiting the closingmovement thereof, and actuating means for the upper ends of said tongsacting to equalize the force of application on the respective tongs whenthe same are in operation in lifting an object.

2. In a device of the class described the combination with a pluralityof pivotallv connected tongs, of equalizing means connecting the upperends thereof for actuation,

and mechanism associated with one of said tongs to limit the closingmovement of all thereof.

3. In a device of the class described the combination with a pluralityof pivotally connected tong levers, of equalizing means connecting theupper ends thereof comprising a length of chain connected to the ends oftwo of said levers, a block loosely connected on the end of another ofsaid levers and through which said chain is trained, and a short lengthof chain linked to said first mentioned chain at one point, and slidablyengaged thereon at another point whereby tension applied on said lastmentioned chain serves to distribute the force of application equallyamong said respective tongs.

4. In a device of the class described a tong lever, a pair of tonglevers pivotally connected on each side thereof with the upper and lowerends of said latter tong levers diverging from one another, andconnecting actuating and equalizing mechanisms connected to the upperends of all of said tong levers to lift the levers and force the sameinto close engagement with an object to be lifted.

5. In a device of the class described pivotally connected tong levers,certain ones thereof bent outwardly both at their upper and lower endsso that the respective upper ends of said tong levers diverge from oneanother and similarly the lower ends thereof, means connecting thediverging lower ends of said tong levers to prevent excessive separationthereof, and actuating means connected to the upper ends of all of saidtong levers acting to equalize the force of application of a loadthereto.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES W. HILLs, Jr., FRANK K. HUnsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner 0! Patents, Washington, I). G.

